Asian Cup 2015: Iraq v Iran, coach calls for fans to be segregated
IRAQ coach Rahdi Swadi says Iraqi and Iran fans should be segregated as the rivals meet in a do-or-die clash at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.
IRAQ coach Rahdi Swadi says Iraqi and Iran fans should be segregated as the rivals — equal to the fiercest on the planet — meet in a do-or-die clash at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.
Swadi suggested the Asian Football Confederation should take precautions to avoid potential crowd flash points.
Swadi said he was disappointed that pockets of Iraqi fans among the 10,235 crowd watched the Lions of Mesopotamia beat Palestine 2-0 in Canberra to secure a knockout clash against Iran on Tuesday night.
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The pair have faced off in Australia in a pre Asian Cup friendly on January 4 in Wollongong where Iran claimed a 1-0 victory in front of a raucous yet peaceful 5745 fans
“From my point of view yes they should keep fans separate,’’ Swadi said.
“It doesn’t mean all fans are there to make trouble.
“There could be some misunderstandings but most of them will come to support the team and have a wonderful time.
“But there should be more organising with relation to separating the fans. I want to make a point.
“The Asian federation could have worked a bit better, our match with Palestine there was a lot of fans but they were sitting in different places.
“I think they should organise the fans, I want to see fans of team A in one part and team B in another part.”
The Iran-Iraq rivalry is a bitter derby given the nations have had a long history of border disputes.
The clash is expected to be ferocious, equal to some of soccer’s great international battles including Germany facing the Netherlands, England meeting Scotland, Italy versus France and Argentina meeting Brazil.
Swadi believes his side has nothing to lose but isn’t happy Iran has been granted an extra day to prepare for the knockout match.
Iran wound up their Group C clash with a 1-0 win over United Arab Emirates at Brisbane Stadium on Monday before flying to Canberra on Tuesday.
And a huge thunder and rainstorm in Canberra on Wednesday evening has also restricted Iraq’s training regime.
“We have one day less (training) and other teams that played at the same time have the same problem,’’ Swadi said.
“I think both teams should have the same time off, I think there is a disadvantage for our team.”
Iran hosting Iraq in a knockout quarter-final is bound to be a thriller after the 2011 Asian Cup last produced a scintillating 2-1 group stage win to Team Melli in Qatar.
In the past seven meetings Iran has claimed six wins and a draw.